Born on May 16, 1837, near Farmington, Tennessee, Woods received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Wabash College in 1859 and read law to enter the bar in 1861.
He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1867 to 1869, returning to private practice in Goshen from 1870 to 1873.
[1] Woods received a recess appointment from President Chester A. Arthur on May 2, 1883, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Walter Q. Gresham.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 7, 1884, and received his commission the same day.
His service terminated on March 21, 1892, due to his elevation to the Seventh Circuit.